50 FORTT-FIFTB REPORT ON THE 



occur in the western part of the state ; and no better evidence is 

 required of the value of lime as a manure, than the proverbial 

 fertility of this favored region." " Bergman found, in one of the 

 most fertile soils of Sweden, thirty parts of carbonate of lime in 

 the hundred." 



In their reports to the legislature the geologists in charge of 

 the various districts of the geological survey of the state urged 

 the value of peat and muck and marl for increasing the fertility 

 of soils. 



On this subject Dr. Emmons (Agriculture of New York, p. 

 314) says : — " Where marl and peat exist, farmers ought never to 

 complain of the scarcity of the means for improving the soil." 

 " We have often spoken of the importance of using peat before it 

 is dried or baked in the sun. When used in a dry state, or mixed 

 in lumps in a soil, it will certainly disappoint the farmer ; but 

 when mixed in a compost with ashes, lime and other refuse mat- 

 ter it will always be found useful. When used in proper quan- 

 tity on wheat lands, the berry will rarely if ever shrink ; and 

 could farmers in all parts of the state secure a supply of marl, 

 peat, lime and ash compost, wheat of the finest quality might be 

 raised equally well in all the districts." 



On the same subject Mather (Geology of New York, first dis- 

 trict, p. 11) says: — "In some parts of Orange and Dutchess 

 counties, this marl is much used by the farmers, and with great 

 advantage to their crops * * * but its value is not yet fully 

 appreciated. It is desirable that agriculturists should make more 

 extensive use of a manure so valuable as this, on soils that con- 

 tain little lime." 



According to analyses published by Emmons, the soiis of the 

 Highlands, the portion of the state east of the Hudson and the 

 Adirondack region are very deficient in lime in any of its forms. 



Mather thinks that shell marl might be used to replace a por- 

 tion of the gypsum used for agricultural purposes. " Gypsum 

 has been invaluable to the lands of the counties above the High- 

 lands, and it is probable that the shell-marl deposits will be of as 

 great a value to the farming interesis." 



The above quotations are given because I have been unable to 

 find any later and more definite information bearing on the sub- 



